With New Remixes By Anuel AA And Jennifer Lopez, 'Te Boté' Reigns Supreme

After some six months of uncertainty, Anuel AA's take on one of last year's biggest Spanish-language hits officially arrives this week on digital platforms for streaming and paid downloading.

Branded with the Latin trap star's "Real Hasta La Muerte" imprimatur, his version of the modern breakup anthem comes just weeks after the release of the Spanglish "Te Boté II," which at one time he was expected to appear on. That latter iteration included fresh verses by pop icon Jennifer Lopez, reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel and Anuel's rapping rival Cosculluela. Released via the same Flow La Movie label as the 2017 original and its vastly more popular remix with Bad Bunny, Anuel's song features none of the guest features nor the core trio behind "Te Boté," suggesting more of a commercial compromise than a true collaboration.

First released in late 2017, the dembow-driven original came credited to Nio García, Casper Mágico and Darell. A few months later, they were joined by música urbana hitmakers Nicky Jam, Ozuna and the aforementioned Bad Bunny. The combination made it a reggaeton smash, with consumption on both terrestrial radio and digital services sending it to the Billboard charts and keeping it there.

Now 36 weeks into its run on Hot Latin Songs, 21 of those spent on the all-genre Hot 100, "Te Boté" remains one of the most popular singles in America. It first reached No. 1 on the former chart back in May of last year, and incredibly hasn't left the top five since.

After only two weeks of charting, "Te Boté II" has already begun impacting Billboard's Latin charts, reaching its present peak on Latin Digital Song Sales at No. 5 this week, besting the concurrently charting earlier remix by one spot. Not surprisingly, "Te Boté II" is still one of iTunes' top ten paid downloads in the Latin category domestically. (While Nio García and Casper Mágico reprise their appearances on the sequel, Darell's once-prominent verse is curiously absent.)

Though "Te Boté" departed the Hot 100 months ago thanks to Billboard's recency rules, there's a good chance that Anuel's RHLM version or the JLo infused sequel could very well appear there in 2019. Given Anuel's three appearances there last year in a lead or featured artist capacity, his might be the more likely contender. Its charting on Hot Latin Songs seems all but a certainty. In just three days, the music video for his take has garnered some 3.5 million YouTube views, compared to the roughly 8.6 million logged by the one for "Te Boté II" over the last two weeks.

That said, the enduring popularity of the 2018 "Te Boté" remix with Bad Bunny ensures it still has plenty of life left in it. Indeed, its continued prominence on Hot Latin Songs recalls that of another reggaeton pop hit. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" first hit Hot Latin Songs 102 weeks ago, and thanks in part to its Justin Bieber remix the track held that chart's No. 1 position for more weeks than it didn't. After almost two years, it remains a top five mainstay, kept at bay only by a pair of more recent crossover hits: DJ Snake's "Taki Taki" with Cardi B, Selena Gomez and Ozuna and Bad Bunny's "MIA" with Drake.

In light of the stubbornness of "Despacito," the idea of "Te Boté" crowding out future Spanish-language hits from reaching the heights of Billboard's Latin charts feels altogether unappealing. While its fresher remixes potentially exposes the single to listener fatigue in an otherwise vibrant genre category, we could easily find "Te Boté" still firmly ensconced in Hot Latin Songs upper reaches in time for its one year charting anniversary.